Locking device for bicycles.



No. 805,207. PATENTED NOV. 2l, 1905. E. P. KAISER. LOCKING DEVICE FORBIGYGLES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 1, 1904.

Arm/mns NrTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOCKING DEVICE FOR BICYCLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1905.

Application led September 1,1904. Serial No. 222,977.

T0 cir/ZZ whom it Wwf/y concern:

Be it known that I, EMIL FREDERICK KAISER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Fresno, in the county of Fresno and State ofCalifornia, have invented a new and Improved Locking Device forBicycles, of which the following is a full, clear, and eXactdescription.

This invention has for its object to provide a locking device forbicycles or the like having novel simple details of construction whichafford a very secure means for preventing the rotation of either thefront or rear wheel of a bicycle, and thus render the bicycle useless asa vehicle until the device is unlocked with a suitable key.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of theseveral parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed outin the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar'characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side view of the improved locking device mounted upon aportion of the front fork of a bicycle-.frame and a sectionalfragmentary portion of a bicycle-wheel partially encircled by the casingof the lock. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the details shown in Fig. 1,but exposing the details of the locking device by removal of thecover-plate for the casing. Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectionalView substantially on the line 3 3 in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an enlargedtransverse sectional view substantially on the line 4 4in Fig. 2. Fig.5is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line5 5 in Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse sectional view of thelocking mechanism in locked adjustment, taken substantially on the line6 6 in Fig. 2; and Fig. 7 is a similar view to Fig. 6, but showing thelocking mechanism in unlocked adjustment.

The members 10 of a bicycle-frame, shown in part, may in completedcondition be the legs of a front frame-fork or a rear fork and, asusual, are tubular, having oval contour in cross-section. These members,that in the drawings may be regarded as portions of the front fork of abicycle, are held spaced apart at their upper ends by yoke-bars 10a,which carry a sleeve-box 10b.

The wheel-rim 11 and tire 11 (shown fragmentarily in Figs. 1 and 2 andthat completed form the front Wheel of the bicycle) are held to rotatein end portions of the fork-legs 10 in any approved manner, so that thewheel is disposed centrally between said legs, as indicated in thedrawings.

The improvement, in brief, consists in providing a locking-bolt carriedby the legs of the frame-fork, so that it may be passed transverselythrough the wheel said fork supports, and also providing a suitablelocking device for holding the locking-bolt in position across andthrough the wheel, thereby preventing the bicycle from receivingprogressive movement until the locking-bolt is withdrawn from itsposition in the wheel.

A casing 12 for the locking device is in the form of an annular boXhaving an open side that is normally closed by a cover-plate 12, and, asshown, a segment is removed from the mainly-circular boX, producing agap of proper width between the open ends of the same. The cover-plate12u conforms peripherally with the contour of the casing 12 and togetherwith it affords space for the free traverse of the wheel rirn and tirein the open- `ing defined by the curved inner wall of the casing whenthe casing and cover-plate are secured uponthe fork members 10.

The preferred means for securing the casing 12 and cover-plate 12a uponthe fork of a bicycle consists of two clamps 12U 12d, that embrace thelegs 10 of the fork and are bolted thereon, as shown clearly in Figs. 1to t of the drawings.

An arcuate slot c is formed in the coverplate 12, the use of which willbe described, and, as shown in Fig. 3, the clamp 12c is furnished withhooks c2, that are embedded in perforations of the cover-plate near theedges of the slot therein, these hooks or studs being formed near spacedends o' of the clamp 12C. The casing 12, with its cover-plate 12, aretogether clamped upon the fork members 10 near the yoke-bars 10, whichpermits the wheel-rim and the tire thereon to work freely in the centralopening in the casing and coverplate.

In the casing 12 a nearly-scmicircular locking-bolt 13 is inserted,fitting loosely therein and held to slide endwise by keeper pins o orthe like, that project from the outer side wall of the casing and haveloose contact with the side of the bolt that is nearest to thecover-plate 12a.

A handle-shank I) projects from the outer side of the locking-bolt 13near one end and passes through the arcuate slot c in the cover- IOO IOS

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plate 12, the curvature of said slot permitting the free traverse of theshank Z) therein when the knob t on the outer end of said shank ismanipulated.

In space provided between the locking-bolt 18 and the cover-plate 12L aslot-cover 14 is loosely held and pressed over the slot c by bow-springs15, that are located between the outer side wall of the casing 12 and anopposite side of the slotecover.

The ends of the cover 14 are sloped, as shown at a' in Fig'. 2, forslidable engagement of the shank L therewith, and it will be seen thatupon manipulation of the knob on the outer end of the shank, so as toslide the locking-bolt 13 in either direction to project or retract it,the engagement of the shank with an adjacent slope (d will press theslot-cover 14 away from the slot c against stress of the springs 15, andthus permit the bolt 13 to receive sliding adjustment.

The bolt-casing 12 is provided with a lateral extension 12", preferablyat the right side and near the upper side thereof, this case extension,that is mainly rectangular, containing the means for locking' the bolt13 and releasing' it, as may be desired, and, as appears in Figs. 1, 6,and 7, the cover-plate 12 is extended to form a closure for thesupplementary case 12".

The lock mechanism contained in the supplernentary case 12" and whichembodies novel features consists, essentially, of thefollowing-described details: In arms (Z, that project down from the topwall of the su pplementary case 12" and which are suitably spaced apart,opposite lateral openings are formed to receive and afford rotatablesupport for a key e, that is insertible through an orifice e in theouter end wall of said case. as appears in Figs. 6 and 7. At a properdistance below the bearings for the key e a series of tumbler-wheels yis supported upon a cylindrical shaft t, that is held in oppositeperforations in the depending' arms d, these wheels being properlyspaced apart by the contact of their hubs at adjacent ends thereof. Eachtumbler-wheel g is provided with a projection or abutment, whichprojects up at one side of the keyhole and key c when the latter isinsertedin the keyhole, so that a turning movement of the key indirection of the curved arrow in Fig. 6 will press an appropriate bit ofthe key against an opposite abutment and rock the tumblerwheelaccordingly. In the normally lower edge of each tumbler-wheel g apreferably rectangular notch g2 is formed, these notches each beingpositioned somewhat to one side ofthe Vertical plane of the abutmentsg', and, as indicated in Fig. 6, a spring t', which is afiixed at itsends, respectively, upon the rear upright wall of the case 12", and thehub of arespective tumbler-wheel, serves to normally hold theabutment-arms g upright and near the key body e parallel therewith. At asuitable point above the bottom wall of the case 12h a horizontal slotle is formed in the Wall that separates the supplementary case from thebolt-holding casing 12.

Each end of the locking-bolt 13 may be beveled toward its inner edge, asis shown in Fig'. 2, and in the outer edge of said bolt near each end arecess m is formed, which may be successively disposed opposite the slot/t by a suitable movement of the lockingbolt.

A latch-bar fa is loosely secured in the case 12", so as to reciprocatein a horizontal plane toward and from a socket or recess m through theslot by means of a clip-plate a', which is attached upon the rear wallof the case 12b. rl`l1elatch-bar is also loosely connected with anupright arm o, held to slide on the back of the case by a clip-plate o',afHxed upon the latter, and, as shown in Fig. 2, a spring 02 isconnected by one end to the rear orinner end of the latch-bar and at theopposite end upon the outer end wall of the case 12", the stress of saidspring' normally pressing the latchbar toward the locking-bolt 13.

Upon the lower end of the arm 0 a camslope o3 is formed, which inclinesdownward and toward the end wall of the case 12b, and, as shown, thelatch-bar fn, is furnished with an enlargement on its inner or rear end,which may ride upon the incline or cam slope o3, that will pull thelatch -bar inward when the arm 0 is slid upward. A check-bar fr isformed on the upper end of the arm 0 and projects horizontally below andnear to the tumbler-wheels .f/.

Above the cam-slope 03 a lifter-finger o* is formed on the arm 0 at itsupper end, said arm being' so positioned that it clears the peripheraledge of an adjacent tumbler-wheel g and abutment g thereon. Thelifter-finger 0'L is provided with a bent upper end that projects intothe path of a bit on the key e, which latter will bear upon the lowerside of said bent upper end 05 as the key is turned in direction of thearrow in Fig. 6 and raise the arm 0, which will cause the cam-slope 03to pull upon the latch-bar w.

Before the bit on the key e engages the bent end 0 other appropriatebits on saidkey will engage with the abutment-arms g and turn thetumbler-wheels g so as to aline the notches g2 in said tumbler-wheels.

The abutment-arms g near their free ends are still in contact withrespective bits on the key e when the key contacts with and commences toraise the lifter-finger 04, which contact will hold the notches g2alined, so that the initial upward movement of the arm 0 will enter theupper edge of the check-bar fr into 'the notches g2, whereupon acontinuation of rocking movement given to the key e will effect thecomplete elevation'of the cam-sloped edge 0i and the retraction of thelatch-bar n.

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If the details of the entire locking device have been adjusted to lockthe slidable bolt 13 in a position that releases the bicycle-wheel forfree rotation, as indicated in Fig. 2, the retraction of the latch-bar nwill obviously permit the locking-bolt 13 to receive longitudinalsliding movement so as to project the end thereof that is farthest fromthe latchbar n across the space between the ends of the casing 12,through the wheel near its rim 11, until the recess m in the end of thelockingbar that approaches the slot 7c is disposed opposite it,whereupon the key e, which has been held to maintain the retraction ofthe latchbar n, is turned in the direction indicated by the curved arrowin Fig. 7. This will permit the stress of the spring 02 to push thelatchbar n into the recess m and draw the arm 0 down, which will disposethe cam-slope 03 as shown in Fig. 6 and remove the check-bar r fromengagement within the notches g2, which will permit the springs I toreturn said notches to the normal positions indicated for one wheel inFig. 6, and the key e may now be removed. When locked, the bolt 13 willpermit the cover 14 to close the slot c in the cover-plate 12a.

It will be noted that unless a key having the exact conformationspecified is employed the bolt 13 cannot be released, and of course thebicycle-wheel engaged by it cannot revolve.

It will be seen that the removal of the clamps 12c 12d from the forkmembers 10 will not release the wheel that has been locked by theprojection of the locking-bolt 13 therethrough, as the lateralprojection of the case extension 12b will prevent a free rotation of thewheel.

Having thus described my invention, I claim las new and desire to secureby Letters-Patent- 1. A bicycle-lock, comprising a casing curvededgewise and having an opening therein, a cover-plate securable on thecasing and having an arcuate slot therein, a locking-bolt longitudinallyslidable in the casing by means of ahandle that works in the slot, and aspringpressed slot-cover loosely held in the casing.

2. A bicycle lock, comprising a casing curved edgewise and having anopening therein, a cover-plate having an arcuate slot therein andsecurable on the casing, a slot-cover laterally spring-pressed towardthe arcuate slot,

normally closing it, a locking-bolt slidable in the casing, a handle onthe bolt, working in the slot, said handle pressing the slot-coveragainst stress of the springs that engage it, and means for locking thebolt projected or retracted.

3. A bicycle lock comprising a casing curved edgewise, two looped clampslocated oppositely on the casing and holding it secu red on the spacedwheel-controlling fork of a bicycle-frame, a cover securable on thecasing, said cover having an arcuate slot therein, a curved locking-boltreciprocal in the casing and manipulated by a handled shank working inthe arcuate slot, a spring-pressed slot-cover normally closing thearcuate slot, and keeperpins at the ends of the bolt for controlling itssliding movement, each end of the slot-cover being sloped edgcwise topermit the handled shank on the bolt to press said slot-cover from overthe slot.

In testimony whereofI have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

EMIL FREDERICK KAISER.

Witnesses:

BERTRAND SAIER, J. H. COLEMAN.

